Category: sport

Aaaand we’re back!

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Yesterday’s internet issue lasted well into today, but the announcement of a restoration of service came alongside a complete explanation of what had gone wrong, and a full apology.

Lol. Did it bollocks. Stuff just finally started working again at about 2 this afternoon, and we haven’t heard a peep from our ISP.

[sarcasm]Amazing.[/sarcasm]

Thankfully, and I am saying that with a very calm voice because this is now in the past, we could use the satellite TV to watch United’s playoff semi-final. And so we did.

And that was genuinely amazing.

A new record aggregate score for the Championship playoff semis, and a place at Wembley next Saturday.

They’ve been brilliant. They’ve blown Bristol City away.

Again. No chicken counting. But this does just feel better than our previous [checks notes] nine failed attempts in the playoff system.

Not counting chickens

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Thank goodness I corrected that spelling error in the title.

It’s never ever over until the fat lady sings, but I can hear someone warming their voice up and all the chocolate has disappeared from the treats cupboard, so I think we’re at least some way towards getting somewhere.

A wonderful performance last night down in Bristol from the Red And White Wizzzaaaards, and we look forward to a cracking atmosphere at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane on Monday for the return leg.

As soon as I saw Vini Souza throwing himself about in the background of Andre Brooks’ goal celebration, I knew that someone was going to have the photograph of the night. And while this one isn’t quite at peak flight for either of our protagonists, it’s still really rather good, and surely one of the next few frames will surface in the near future.

I hate the playoffs, but yes, that offside call might just have been correct; yes, of course it was a red card; and yes, this result was probably more than we could have dreamt of before kick off last night.
I’m absolutely ready to have my now foolishly expectant heart broken again in the near future.
Rinse and repeat.

UTB.

Take the positives

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A bit of a disappointing finish to United’s regular season, although third place (and 16 points clear of fourth) in a league that many thought we might drop straight through really isn’t too bad.

And still the lottery of the playoffs to come.

We live in hope.

So it might not have been the most amazing of seasons, but look… It could have been worse:

9 places, 34 points and 2 Steel City Derby defeats worse to be exact.

Ouch. I’m so glad we’re not them.

Footy

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With a friend’s sons playing (for two different schools…!?!) at the Wynberg Freedom Cup this long pseudo-weekend, I’ve taken a couple of trips down the road to watch and support them, and enjoy some schoolboy football.

It’s not the usual thing we’re used to up at this end of town, with Rugby, Rugby, Rugby and Cricket being the standard sports of choice, and Football coming in a distant fifth (or sometimes even sixth behind Rugby). But this invitational tournament features a lot of local schools, and several from up country as well, and it’s been well-organised, well-attended and well-supported.

And because of the heavy rain yesterday morning, turning at least some of each of the seven pitches into churned up mudbaths, it very much reminded me of my own school footy. OK, maybe not quite as cold or deep, but somehow every bit as messy. Also, I don’t remember there being a vineyard at one end of our field. Or Table Mountain beyond it. But it’s been a while, and maybe I’ve just forgotten these things.

Thankfully, today dawned much more brightly, and it was almost pleasant (if rather bracing at 9oC) for the [checks notes] 7:30am kick off. Two goals for our protagonist in this one, as his side romped to a 9-0 demolition of a sleepy, lacklustre opposition. Even Oscar put one in.

The semis and finals are all on tomorrow (Saturday) if you want to go through: entry is free.
Sadly, given the actual professional football happening tomorrow, I’ll likely be watching my favourite sport at home rather than out on the touchline. But this has been a nice distraction from building work and everything else at home.

Better news

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United back to winning ways?

Yes.

But also…

The BBC has delayed blocking BBC Sounds app for audiences outside the UK.

It comes after a decision made by the corporation meant listeners outside the UK would only be able to access Radio 4 and the World Service via a new audio section on BBC.com.

In a statement the BBC said it is working on plans to “continue to make other BBC stations available to listeners outside the UK” adding that it “will not close BBC Sounds outside the UK until we have confirmed these plans”.

Any backtrack on their plans would be great news for me and the many thousands of BBC listeners worldwide.

I’m not counting chickens, but I am crossing fingers.

(I’m a big grown up boy and I can count things without using my fingers now.)